Grotte-chapelle de Remonot, Cave chapel in Les Combes, France
The Grotte-Chapelle de Remonot is a chapel carved into the rock face, extending deep underground with naturally high ceilings that give it an open feel. A copper bell tower rises above the entrance, marking this unusual place of worship where human construction meets the cave itself.
The site began in the 12th century as a hermitage for isolated monks seeking solitude in the rock. The space later transformed into a formal chapel during the 17th century to serve local communities.
Inside, a 15th-century Pietà statue sits above an Art Deco altar, alongside wooden carvings of Saint Barbara and Saint Agatha from the 18th century. These works reflect how local believers expressed their faith through sculpture.
The chapel sits right beside the D437 road between Morteau and Pontarlier, making it easy to stop during a drive through the region. Public buses from the Mobidoubs network serve this location, allowing visitors to arrive without a car.
A spring called Gesambrune flows from deep within the cave, and locals once believed its water had healing powers. People particularly sought it out for relief from eye problems.
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